Dealer Team Vauxhall, commonly known as DTV, was a motorsport organisation.
In the absence of any official motorsport sponsorship by General Motors globally, and by its Vauxhall Motors subsidiary specifically, a group of London-based Vauxhall dealers decided to start an organisation to financially support racing and rallying of Vauxhall cars. It was established in January 1971.
Initially the racing program was run by Bill Blydenstein, an engine tuner and racing driver, and the rallying program by Chris Coburn. In 1976 Blydenstein became responsible for both racing and rallying. From 1978 on, the focus was entirely on rallying.
Vauxhall models developed by DTV for racing and rallying include the Viva, Firenza, Magnum, Victor, and Chevette.
Drivers included Gerry Marshall, Will Sparrow, Barrie 'Whizzo' Williams, Jimmy McRae, Pentti Airikkala and others. Rally co-drivers included Rodney Spokes, Nigel Raeburn and Don Barrow.
The 1981 franchise merger of Vauxhall and Opel also brought DTV and the corresponding German Dealer Opel Team (DOT) under one marketing umbrella, resulting in a new organisation called General Motors DealerSport.
External links
edit- The Vauxhall Viva Owner's Club (Owner's Club catering for all Viva models)
- DroopSnoot Group (Owners' Club catering for Vauxhall's 'droopsnoot' model cars, including the Firenza, Magnum and Chevette HS/R)
- GMCOG (General Motors Classic Owners Group)
- VBOA (Vauxhall, Bedford and Opel Association)
- "Viva Outlaws Club". www.vivaoutlaws.co.uk. 23 January 2023. (Owners Club catering for modified and racing Vivas, owners of the Viva GT Register)
- "Welcome to the Viva Drivers Club Website". Viva Drivers Club. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- VX4/90 Drivers Club (Owners Club catering for FD, FE and VX series Victors, Ventoras and VX4/90's)